GREY FIRE BOARD

Grey River Argus, 19 July 1941, Page 2

GREY FIRE BOARD

MR. J. SAUNDERS ELECTED CHAIRMAN. There were present at the quarterly meeting of the Greymouth Fire Board, Messrs J. B. Kent. J. Saunders, W. E. Olds, N. D. Bowman, J. Ross Fire Supt. P. Deere, and Mr. E. J. Rundle (Secretary). Mr. J’. Saunders, who was appointed Acting-Chairman, welcomed Messrs Ross, Olds and Bowman to the Board. Mr. Bowman nominated Mr. Saunders as Chairman for the ensuing term. Mr. Ross nominated Mr. Kent, stating that he was the oldest member of the Board. Mr. Kent remarked that it surely would be an extraordinary innovation to elect as Chairman the youngest or newest member, and he questioned the attitude ot Mr. Saunders in accepting nomination. The speaker had indeed heard a rumour that Mr. Saunders would be nominated, but was sorry to see that he had consented to it. Mr. Bowman said it was for the members to say who would be Chairman. He denied the suggestion that there had been any prior appointment. Mr. Saunders said it was only right that the intending nominator should ask his proposed nominee H he were willing to accept the nom’ination. As for his being the junior 1 Board member, his association with the Eire Brigade went back forty years. Mr. Olds said that there was no necessity for discussion on the matter. It was now for them to vote. Mr. Saunders was elected Chairman by three (Messrs Olds, Bowman i and Saunders), to two (Messrs Ross and Kent). Mr. Kent remarked that the election of Mr. Saunders meant that the underwriters could run the Board, as Mr. Saunders himself was connected with insurance in his business. The Chairman said his firm was connected with insurance, but he was not. Advice was received from Mr. J. O’Brien, M.P., the Internal Affairs (Department, and the Minister of (Housing, that a trailer pump unit had been allocated to the Cobden area. The Secretary said that he had sent a letter of thanks to Mr. O'Brien. Perhaps the Board would like to add to it. On the motion of the Chairman, it was decided to send letters of appreciation to Mr. O’Brien. Hon. P. C. Webb, and Mr. Girling Butcher, and record the Boards appreciation in its minutes. The Chairman asked if the trailer pump were available for immediate use in Cobden. Superintendent Deere said that the pump could be used, but in the event of an emergency water would have to be obtained from the river. He suggested that the Board get the Borough Council to dam up a creek in Cobden. The Chairman said that the matter was in hand Mr. Olds moved that the Borough Council be asked to make adequate arrangements for -an emergency water supply in Cobden. Mr. Bowman seconded the motion, which was carried. The Chairman asked if there were accommodation for the trailer in Cobden. The Superintendent said that there was not, but he was looking to see where a place could be built. The pump would not require a large place. The Internal Affairs Department wrote approving of the personnel of the Board. The National Service Department notified approval of having 20 members in the Greymouth Emergency Fire Service, and live in Cobden E. An invitation was extended the underwriters to the "function to celebrate the Superintendent’s 50 years’ service on the Board. It was decided to extend the Board’s congratulations and. thanks to Supt. Deere for his -service. It was decided that a letter of appreciation be sent to Mr. W. H. Parfitt, a’ former member of the Board, and appreciation of his services be recorded in the minutes, and also that similar letters be sent to Messrs F. S. Grant and C. H. Box, former underwriters’ representatives. The action of Mr. Kent and the Superintendent in ordering six buck-

et pumps, was endorsed. Mr. Bowman moved that the previous Board be congratulated on its handling of the finances which had enabled the Board to produce estimates with no increase on the previous year. The Chairman seconded the motion, which was carried. The Superintendent recommended that three or four plugs be put m the Hospital grounds, as at the present time there was only one plug 'for the whole institution. Mr. Kem (a member of the Hospital Board), said that Board had asked the'Superintendent for a report on tne matter. Accounts amounting to £7l 2s lid were passed for payment, and accounts amounting to £364 8s IDd were confirmed. The Superintendent’s report, as .follows, was adopted:—There were two fires since tne last meeting- oi the Board, viz.: On April 13, at McGeady’s dwelling, Cobden, at 4.4 b p.m., when two rooms and a passage were partly damageu. and on Muy 11 at Bellis’s fruit shop, Tainui Street, at 3.50 p.m., when very little ! damage was caased. Mr. W. Price 'has been transferred to Ross and ips place at the station has not been iilled yet. We have been allotteu a trailer pump by the Government. The pump nas arrived, but none oi the littings and hose have come to hand as yet. We were allotted 2Uu feet of hose cut of the last shipment to arrive in New Zealand. This had been on order for two years, ’there is also on order another 900 ieet. The Cobden engine is at present under overhaul, and as it is over 22 years old, some oi the parts are hard io replace. Some wul have to be made. 1 have not yet lowered the ben but as soon as i get a suitable man, I will have it attended to. Tne usual practices ana meetings have been well attended.